U.S. patent application number 14/480150 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-26 for content playback apparatus, content playback method and storage medium.
The applicant listed for this patent is THOMSON LICENSING. Invention is credited to Yuichi ABE, Masamichi ASUKAI, Takatoshi NAKAMURA, Yoichiro SAKO, Toru SASAKI, Katsuya SHIRAI, Mitsuru TAKEHARA, Toshiro TERAUCHI.
Application Number | 20150058732 14/480150 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37998426 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150058732 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NAKAMURA; Takatoshi ; et
al. |
February 26, 2015 |
CONTENT PLAYBACK APPARATUS, CONTENT PLAYBACK METHOD AND STORAGE
MEDIUM
Abstract
A content playback apparatus includes: a display section that
displays a plurality of indicators associated with a plurality of
pieces of content, and a specifier to be used to specify one of the
indicators; a playback section that plays back the piece of content
associated with the indicator specified by the specifier; a switch
section that switches, in accordance with a user's operation, what
the specifier specifies to new the indicator; and a playback
control section that controls the playback section such that if the
user's operation switches, while the piece of content associated
with the indicator specified by the specifier is played, what the
specifier specifies to next the indicator and the user's subsequent
operation switches, within a predetermined period of time from when
the previous switch is completed, what the specifier specifies to
subsequent the indicator, the playback section keeps playing back
the piece of content.
Inventors: |
NAKAMURA; Takatoshi;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; ABE; Yuichi; (Tokyo, JP) ;
SAKO; Yoichiro; (Tokyo, JP) ; ASUKAI; Masamichi;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; TAKEHARA; Mitsuru; (Tokyo,
JP) ; SHIRAI; Katsuya; (Kanagawa, JP) ;
SASAKI; Toru; (Tokyo, JP) ; TERAUCHI; Toshiro;
(Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
THOMSON LICENSING |
Issy de Moulineaux |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
37998426 |
Appl. No.: |
14/480150 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13302453 |
Nov 22, 2011 |
8861930 |
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14480150 |
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11654730 |
Jan 18, 2007 |
8091027 |
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13302453 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/719 ;
715/716 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04817 20130101;
G06F 3/04842 20130101; G11B 27/105 20130101; G05B 15/02 20130101;
G06F 3/0482 20130101; G11B 27/34 20130101; G11B 19/025
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/719 ;
715/716 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0484 20060101
G06F003/0484; G06F 3/0481 20060101 G06F003/0481; G06F 3/0482
20060101 G06F003/0482; G05B 15/02 20060101 G05B015/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 23, 2006 |
JP |
2006-014214 |
Claims
1-18. (canceled)
19. A content playback device comprising: a selection unit
configured to detect a selection of an icon of a plurality of
icons, the plurality of icons corresponding to a respective
plurality of images; a display section, the display section
including: an icon section in one area of the display section that
displays the plurality of icons, and an image section in another
area of the display area that displays a corresponding image to a
selected icon of the plurality of icons, the icon section
highlighting the selected icon and the image section highlighting
the corresponding image; and a control section, the control section
providing display commands for displaying the plurality of images
and outputting sound associated with the selected icon.
20. The content playback device of claim 19, wherein the control
section encodes music data corresponding to the plurality of
images.
21. The content playback device of claim 20, wherein the control
section encodes the music data to a format of MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3
(MP3) or Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding 3 (ATRAC3).
22. The content playback device of claim 19, wherein the control
section acquires music data corresponding to the plurality of
images from a disk.
23. The content playback device of claim 19, wherein the control
section acquires music data corresponding to the plurality of
images from a content server.
24. The content playback device of claim 19, wherein the sound
associated with the selected icon is responsive to a user dialing a
selection dial and the sound is a piece of music content associated
with the selected icon.
25. The content playback device of claim 19, wherein the sound
associated with the selected icon is responsive to a user dialing a
selection dial and the sound is a piece of audio associated with
the selected icon.
26. The content playback device of claim 19, wherein the control
section acquires content to playback associated with the plurality
of icons through a communication cable or a wireless Local Area
Network (LAN).
27. The content playback device of claim 19, wherein the control
section acquires content to playback associated with the plurality
of icons through a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable.
28. A content playback device comprising: a selection unit
configured to detect a selection of an icon of a plurality of
icons, the plurality of icons corresponding to a respective
plurality of images; a display section, the display section
including: an icon section in one area of the display section that
displays the plurality of icons, and an image section in another
area of the display area that displays a corresponding image to a
selected icon of the plurality of icons, the icon section
highlighting the selected icon and the image section highlighting
the corresponding image; and a control section, the control section
providing display commands for displaying the plurality of images
and encoding audio corresponding to the plurality of images.
29. The content playback device of claim 28, wherein the control
section encodes the audio corresponding to the plurality of
images.
30. The content playback device of claim 29, wherein the control
section encodes the audio to a format of MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)
or Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding 3 (ATRAC3).
31. The content playback device of claim 28, wherein the control
section acquires the audio from a disk.
32. The content playback device of claim 28, wherein the control
section acquires the audio from a content server.
33. The content playback device of claim 28, wherein the sound
associated with the selected icon is responsive to a user dialing a
selection dial and the sound is a piece of the audio associated
with the selected icon.
34. The content playback device of claim 28, wherein the control
section outputs sound associated with the selected icon.
35. The content playback device of claim 28, wherein the control
section acquires content to playback associated with the plurality
of icons through a wireless Local Area Network (LAN).
36. The content playback device of claim 28, wherein the control
section acquires content to playback associated with the plurality
of icons through a communication cable, a Universal Serial Bus
(USB) cable, or an Ethernet.
37. A content playback device comprising: a selection unit
configured to detect a selection of an icon of a plurality of
icons, the plurality of icons corresponding to a respective
plurality of images; a display section, the display section
including: an icon section in one area of the display section that
displays the plurality of icons, and an image section in another
area of the display area that displays a corresponding image to a
selected icon of the plurality of icons, the icon section
highlighting the selected icon and the image section highlighting
the corresponding image; and a control section, the control section
providing display commands for displaying the plurality of images
and encoding video corresponding to the plurality of images.
38. A video and audio content playback device, comprising: digital
storage for a plurality of respective images and a plurality of
respective icons representing ones of said respective images; a
display having a first portion in which said plurality of icons are
displayed and a second portion in which at least one image
representing at least one selected icon is displayed; selected
icons being highlighted in the first portion of the display and
selected images being highlighted in the second portion of the
display; said selected images being displayed in conjunction with
audio content related to said selected images; and, a controller
that selects among said icons.
39. The playback device of claim 28, wherein said controller is
responsive to at least one input command.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present invention is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
13/302,453, filed Nov. 22, 2011, which claims benefit of Ser. No.
11/654,730, filed Jan. 18, 2007, which granted as U.S. Pat. No.
8,091,027 on Jan. 3, 2012, and which claims the priority benefit of
Japanese patent application number 2006-014214, filed in the
Japanese Patent Office on Jan. 23, 2006, which is hereby
incorporated by reference to the maximum extent allowable by
law.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a content playback
apparatus, content playback method and storage medium for storing a
content playback program, and is preferably applied to a case in
which a user interface is provided to retrieve the user's desired
piece of music content out of many pieces of music content, for
example.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] In recent years, a content playback device is here to stay:
the content playback device stores many pieces of digital content,
such as music and video, in a large-capacity hard disk and the
like; the content playback device is also capable of acquiring the
digital content from external servers through a high-speed network
and the like; the content playback device plays back the piece of
digital content specified by a user.
[0006] For example, Jpn. Pat. Laid-open Publication No. 2004-356774
discloses a content playback device which displays rows of
thumbnails each of which is associated with each piece of content
after classifying them by content (media) type. This allows a user
to easily select pieces of content.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] By the way, there is a content playback device, which stores
many pieces of music content, capable of immediately playback the
piece of music content selected through a cursor by a user for
trial listening. This helps the user to realize what the pieces of
music content are when he/she selects one to play back.
[0008] In a case in which the user continuously selects the pieces
of music content to find out his/her desired one, they are played
back one after another for a short period of time.
[0009] In this case, the content playback device repeatedly changes
what it plays back for a short period of time. This may sound like
nose to the user who may then feel uncomfortable.
[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above
points and is intended to provide a content playback apparatus,
content playback method and storage medium for storing a content
playback program that can change the piece of content without
discomfort.
[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, a content playback
apparatus performs the process of: displaying a plurality of
indicators associated with a plurality of pieces of content, and a
specifier to be used to specify one of the indicators; playing back
the piece of content associated with the indicator specified by the
specifier; switching, in accordance with a user's operation, what
the specifier specifies to new the indicator; and controlling such
that if the user's operation switches, while the piece of content
associated with the indicator specified by the specifier is played,
what the specifier specifies to next the indicator and the user's
subsequent operation switches, within a predetermined period of
time from when the previous switch is completed, what the specifier
specifies to subsequent the indicator, the piece of content keeps
being played.
[0012] Accordingly, the user's operation that continuously switches
what the specifier specifies does not switch the piece of content
to be played one after another for a short period of time. Instead,
that keeps playing back the originally-specified piece of
content.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
user's operation that continuously switches what the specifier
specifies does not switch the piece of content to be played one
after another for a short period of time. Instead, that keeps
playing back the originally-specified piece of content. Thus, the
content playback apparatus, content playback method and storage
medium for storing a content playback program can change the piece
of content without discomfort.
[0014] The nature, principle and utility of the invention will
become more apparent from the following detailed description when
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like
parts are designate by like reference numerals or characters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] In the accompanying drawings:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an audio
device;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the circuit
configuration of the audio device;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the
functional configuration of the audio device;
[0019] FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating the
configuration of a data management table;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the information
displayed on a front panel in all music display mode;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration
of a focus frame;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating methods of
selecting and displaying the pieces of music content;
[0023] FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams illustrating
selection of content and timing of reproduction;
[0024] FIGS. 9A to 9G are schematic diagrams illustrating playback
of content in low speed switch mode;
[0025] FIGS. 10A to 10E are schematic diagrams illustrating
playback of content in high speed switch mode;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of selection
content switch process;
[0027] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of selection
content playback process;
[0028] FIGS. 13A to 13E are schematic diagrams illustrating
thumbnail images being scrolled;
[0029] FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematic diagrams illustrating
playback volume levels during a process of switching the pieces of
content;
[0030] FIGS. 15A and 15B are schematic diagrams illustrating volume
levels and sound localization at time instance t31;
[0031] FIGS. 16A and 16B are schematic diagrams illustrating volume
levels and sound localization at time instance t32;
[0032] FIGS. 17A and 17B are schematic diagrams illustrating volume
levels and sound localization at time instance t34;
[0033] FIGS. 18A and 18B are schematic diagrams illustrating volume
levels and sound localization at time instance t36; and
[0034] FIGS. 19A and 19B are schematic diagrams illustrating volume
levels and sound localization at time instance t37.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(1) Overall Configuration of Audio Device
[0036] In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 denotes an audio device
according to an embodiment of the present invention. An insertion
slot 3 is placed on a right side panel 2A of a housing 2. The
insertion slot 3 accepts an optical disc 4 such as Digital
Versatile Disc (DVD) and Compact Disc (CD). An entry slot 5 is
placed below the insertion slot 3. The entry slot 5 accepts a small
memory card 6 such as "MEMORY STICK (Registered Trademark of Sony
Corporation)".
[0037] The audio device 1 also includes the following components: a
content display section 8, such as liquid crystal display, on a
front panel 7; an operation button disposed area 10 on the right of
the content display section 8; and a zoom dial 12 with a selection
dial 11 on the bottom right of the content display section 8 and
the operation button disposed area 10. The zoom dial 12, which is
larger than the selection dial 11, is placed under the selection
dial 11 that is to be used to select a piece of music content.
[0038] In addition, the audio device 1 includes time axis bar
display sections TB1 and TB2 (described below) to present pieces of
music content in chronologic order, or in order of time. The time
axis bar display sections TB1 and TB2 are for example equivalent to
a liquid crystal display, being placed below the content display
section 8 and the operation button disposed area 10.
[0039] The audio device 1 is capable of playing back the piece of
music content from the optical disc 4 in the insertion slot 3 and
from the small memory card 6 in the entry slot 5 to output music
through a speaker (not shown) connected to the audio device 1. In
addition, the audio device 1 is capable of reading out the pieces
of music content from the optical disc 4 and the small memory card
6 to store them in an internal Hard Disk Drive.
[0040] Furthermore, the audio device 1 is capable of connecting to
the Internet through a network cable. This allows the audio device
1 to download the desired piece of music content from external
servers on the Internet and then store it in the internal Hard Disk
Drive.
[0041] The operation button disposed area 10 includes a group of
operation buttons 9: a playback button 9A, which is to be used to
play back or stop the piece of music data selected by the selection
dial 11; a skip button 9B, which is used to skip the piece of music
content; a volume control button 9C; a recording button 9D; a timer
setting button 9E; a user rating button 9F; a menu button 9G, which
is used to switch modes; optional buttons 9H to 9K, to which
various functions may be assigned according to the modes; and a
cancel button 9L. The audio device 1 performs various processes in
accordance with the user's operation of the operation buttons
9.
(2) Internal Configuration of Audio Device
(2-1) Circuit Configuration
[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, a control section 20 takes overall
control of the audio device 1. In the control section 20, a Central
Processing Unit (CPU) 20A reads out programs, such as basic
programs and content display programs, from a Read Only Memory
(ROM) 20B through a bus 21, and then loads them onto a Random
Access Memory (RAM) 20C to perform processes such as a content
display process.
[0043] The control section 20 for example rips music data from the
optical disc 4 (FIG. 1) that has been inserted into a DVD drive 23
through the insertion slot 3 (FIG. 1). The control section 20 then
encodes the music data in the format of MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3),
Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding 3 (ATRAC3) or the like to
generate the piece of music content MC. Alternatively, the control
section 20 directly reads out the piece of music content MC, which
has been already encoded, from the small memory card 6 that has
been inserted into a memory card drive 24 through the entry slot 5
(FIG. 1). The control section 20 stores the piece of music content
MC in a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) 22.
[0044] The control section 20 also acquires the music content MC
from an external content server (not shown) through a network
interface 25, and then stores it in the Hard Disk Drive 22.
[0045] In addition to that, the control section 20 acquires, from
the external content server and other servers that are connected to
the audio device 1 through the Internet, a thumbnail image SG
including a jacket photograph of the piece of music content MC, and
metadata MTD including music names, artist names, and release date
of the piece of music content MC. The control section 20
subsequently reduces the size of the thumbnail image SG in all
directions, and then compresses the size of thumbnail image SG in
horizontal direction to produce a content icon CA. The control
section 20 then stores the content icon CA in the Hard Disk Drive
22 such that it is associated with the piece of music content
MC.
[0046] By the way, the Hard Disk Drive 22 has enough space to
store, for example, thousands to tens of thousands of pieces of
music content MC.
[0047] A video controller 26A of a display section 26 obtains a
display command from the control section 20 via the bus 21. In
response to the display command, the video controller 26A displays
a plurality of thumbnail images SG of the pieces of music content
MC on the content display section 8 of the front panel 7. In
addition, the video controller 26A displays the content icon CA on
the time axis bar display sections TB1 and TB2, and also updates,
in response to the display command, the displayed information.
[0048] When a user rotates the selection dial 11 to the right or
left (this operation will be also referred to as "selection
operation"), a rotary encoder (not shown) of an operation input
section 27 in the selection dial 11 generates, in response to the
rotated angle (the amount of rotation), a rotation signal SR1, and
then supplies the rotation signal SR1 to the control section 20
through an input interface 27A and the bus 21.
[0049] In response to that, the control section 20 switches what it
focuses to a right- or left-hand thumbnail image SG on the content
display section 8. In this manner, the control section 20 changes
what it selects from one piece of music content MC to another
(described later in detail).
[0050] When a user rotates the zoom dial 12 to the right or left
(this operation will be also referred to as "zoom change
operation"), a rotary encoder (not shown) of the operation input
section 27 in the zoom dial 12 generates, in response to the
rotated angle (the amount of rotation), a rotation signal SR2, and
then supplies the rotation signal SR2 to the control section 20
through the input interface 27A and the bus 21.
[0051] In response to that, the control section 20 changes an
extraction condition that defines which thumbnail images SG the
content display section 8 displays out of the thumbnail images SG
of all pieces of the music content MC stored in the Hard Disk Drive
22, and updates the thumbnail images SG on the content display
section 8. The control section 20 also updates a display pattern of
the content icons CA on the time axis bar display sections TB1 and
TB2 (described later in detail).
[0052] When the operation buttons 9 are pushed, the operation input
section 27 generates a push signal SU, and then supplies the push
signal SU to the control section 20 through the input interface 27A
and the bus 21. In this case, the control section 20 performs
various processes in response to the operation button pushed (i.e.
the playback button 9A to the cancel button 9L), such as playback
process.
[0053] When the playback button 9A of the operation buttons 9 is
pushed while any piece of music content MC is not being played
back, the control section 20 reads out the piece of music content
MC, which is associated with the focused (or selected) thumbnail
image SG, from the Hard Disk Drive 22, and then supplies the piece
of music content MC to an audio controller 29 of an audio
reproduction section 28 via the bus 21.
[0054] The audio controller 29 receives the piece of music content
MC, which was read from the Hard Disk Drive 22, via the bus 21, and
then performs processes in accordance with the encoding format of
the music content MC, such as decoding and Digital-to-Analog (D/A)
conversion, to produce a reproduced signal SA. The audio controller
29 subsequently amplifies the reproduced signal SA by an amplifier
30, and then supplies it to a speaker 31 which then outputs, based
on the reproduced signal, sound.
[0055] The control section 20 acquires time information from a
clock circuit 32 through the bus 21 to obtain the current time. The
control section 20 repeatedly acquires the current times and
calculates the differences between them. In this manner, the
control section 20 calculates elapsed time between two points in
time.
[0056] In this manner, the audio device 1 displays the thumbnail
image SG of the piece of music content MC stored in the Hard Disk
Drive 22 on the content display section 8 and the like, and also
updates the information displayed on the content display section 8
and the like in response to the selection operation or zoom change
operation of the operation input section 27 about the pieces of
music content MC, and then plays back the selected piece of music
content MC.
(2-2) Functional Configuration
[0057] FIG. 3 shows the functional configuration of the audio
device 1, detailing the functions of displaying the thumbnail
images SG.
[0058] The Hard Disk Drive 22 stores the following data in a
content storage section 22A: the pieces of music content MC, and
the thumbnail images SG and content icons CA corresponding to the
pieces of music content MC. The Hard Disk Drive 22 also stores
various metadata MTD, such as music names, artist names, release
data and annual ranking of the pieces of music content MC, in a
content metadata storage section 22B.
[0059] The Hard Disk Drive 22 uses a content data management table
TBL1 (FIG. 4A) to manage the pieces of music content MC, which are
stored in the content storage section 22A, their thumbnail images
SG and content icons CA as a file with a predetermined content name
indicated by a content ID. FIG. 4B shows a content metadata
management table TBL2 that manages various metadata MTD, which are
stored in the content metadata storage section 22B, as a file with
a content metadata name indicated by a content ID.
[0060] When a user performs the selection operation through the
selection dial 11 of the operation input section 27 to select a
piece of music content MC, a reproduction control section 20D of
the control section 20 acquires the metadata MTD of the selected
piece of music content MC from the content metadata storage section
22B of the Hard Disk Drive 22 through a content metadata management
section 20F. The reproduction control section 20D of the control
section 20 also reads out a file (the piece of music content MC)
specified by the metadata MTD from the content strage section 22A
of the Hard Disk Drive 22 through a content management section 20E,
and then supplies the file to the audio reproduction section
28.
[0061] In response to that, the audio reproduction section 28
performs processes, such as decoding process and amplification
process on the piece of music content MC, to reproduce sound of the
piece of music content MC, and then allows the user to listen to
it.
[0062] In addition, when the user performs the selection operation
through the selection dial 11 of the operation input section 27 to
switch the piece of music content MC, the reproduction control
section 20D of the control section 20 updates the thumbnail images
SG displayed on the content display section 8 of the display
section 26. In addition, in accordance with the selection
operation, the reproduction control section 20D keeps playing the
currently played piece of music content MC, or switches what it
plays back to the recently selected piece of music content MC
(described below in detail).
(3) Configuration of Front Panel
[0063] The audio device 1 according to an embodiment of the present
invention has enough space to store thousands to tens of thousands
of pieces of music content MC in its internal Hard Disk Drive 22.
The front panel 7 is designed to allow a user to easily retrieve
his/her desired piece of music content MC from many pieces of music
content MC without using music or artist names.
(3-1) All Music Display Mode
[0064] As shown in FIG. 5, the front panel 7 of the audio device 1
includes the following components: the content display section 8,
which displays a plurality of pieces of thumbnail images SG (5
pieces, in this case) each of which includes a jacket photograph
and the like of the music content (the thumbnail image SG is for
example equivalent to an indicator); the time axis bar display
section TB1, where the content icons CA1 to CAn corresponding to
all pieces of music content MC stored in the Hard Disk Drive 22 are
displayed side by side in order of release date (year, month and
day of release); and the time axis bar display section TB2, where
the content icons CA of the pieces of music content MC that have
been culled in a predetermined manner at the time of content
retrieval as low-priority data are displayed side by side in order
of release date (year, month and day of release).
[0065] An all music display mode displays all the content icons CA1
to CAn on the time axis bar display section TB1 in order of release
date (year, month and day of release), and does not display any
content icons CA on the time axis bar display section TB2.
[0066] If the user selects one piece of music content MC by the
selection dial 11, then this piece of music content MC is focused
by the content display section 8. The content display section 8
visually notifies the user of the fact that the piece of music
content MC has been focused by for example putting a red focus
frame FC1 (equivalent to a specifier) on the thumbnail image SG of
this piece of music content MC. In addition, the content display
section 8 displays its release year and music name ("1981/Autumn
color", in this case) on an red underline UL1 extending upward from
the focus frame FC1, and its artist name ("YUNNZU", in this case)
under an red underline UL2 extending downward from the focus frame
FC1.
[0067] In this manner, the audio device 1 allows the user to easily
recognize the piece of music content MC, which is currently
selected by the selection dial 11 through the focus frame FC1 of
the content display section 8, by checking the thumbnail image SG,
the characters on the underline UL1 and the characters under the
underline UL2. The piece of music content MC currently selected by
the focus frame FC1 is also referred to as a "piece of selection
content SC".
[0068] Especially, the audio device 1 can present the piece of
music content MC as an image of the thumbnail image SG. Therefore
the user who does not remember anything like its music and artist
names but its image can easily determine whether this piece of
music content is what he/she wants to retrieve. In addition, that
reminds him/her that this piece of music content MC is there.
Accordingly, this piece of music content MC can be included in
his/her retrieval target.
[0069] The time axis bar display section TB1 on all music display
mode displays the content icons CA1 to CAn in order of release date
(year, month and day), or in order of time. In accordance with
that, the content display section 8 displays the character strings
TX1 to TX3 indicative of the release date of the content icon CA1
to CAn (1968, 1981, and 1990, in this case) on the bottom area of
the content display section 8.
[0070] In addition, the time axis bar display section TB1 surrounds
the five content icons CA, which correspond to the five thumbnail
images SG on the content display section 8, with a red focus frame
FC2 for example. This allows the user to visually understand,
through the focus frame FC2 and the character strings TX1 to TX3 on
the content display section 8, where the piece of music content MC
selected by the focus frame FC1 is located on the time line.
[0071] Especially, as shown in FIG. 6, the time axis bar display
section TB1 surrounds the five content icons CA, which correspond
to the five thumbnail images SG currently displayed on the content
display section 8, with the focus frame FC2. Inside this, the time
axis bar display section TB1 furthermore surrounds the content icon
CA, which corresponds to the thumbnail image SG that is currently
selected by the focus frame FC1 (FIG. 5), with a red focus frame
FC3 and also puts yellow on the whole content icon CA to be
displayed.
[0072] In this manner, the audio device 1 associates the five
thumbnail images SG on the content display section 8 with the five
content icons CA inside the focus frame FC2 of the time axis bar
display section TB1. Accordingly, the user can easily and
intuitively understand which generation the pieces of music content
MC corresponding to the five thumbnail images SG belong to on the
time axis bar display section TB1.
[0073] In addition, the audio device 1 plays back, after the
thumbnail image SG is selected by the focus frame FC1, the piece of
selection content SC. This allows the user to listen to the sound
of the piece of selection content SC.
[0074] In this manner, the audio device 1 allows the user to check
the thumbnail image SG of the piece of music content MC, its
release date, and its actual sound to retrieve the piece of music
content MC. Accordingly, even if the user does not remember the
music name and artist name, he/she can retrieve his/her desired
piece of music content MC.
(3-2) Selection and Display of Music Content
[0075] As shown in FIG. 7, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 moves the thumbnail images SG on the content display
section 8 by one frame each time the selection dial 11 is rotated
at its minimum angular increment by the user.
[0076] At this time, in response to the rotated direction of the
selection dial 11, the control section 20 of the audio device 1
displays an animation where the thumbnail images
[0077] SG on the content display section 8 are updated by moving to
the right or left. In this manner, the thumbnail images SG are
scrolled (described in detail below).
[0078] In this manner, the control section 20 of the audio device 1
changes what the focus frame FC1 is selecting on the content
display section 8 to a next thumbnail image SG. In response to
that, the control section 20 moves the focus frame FC2 surrounding
the five content icons CA by one frame.
[0079] At this time, the control section 20 of the audio device 1
displays the release date and music name of the piece of music
content MC (i.e. the piece of selection content SC) corresponding
to the thumbnail image SG selected by the focus frame FC1
("1980/Hello Summer Time", in this case) on the underline UL1, and
its artist name ("YAMAGAMI TATSUHIRO", in this case) under the
underline UL2.
[0080] By the way, when the user operates the selection dial 11 to
select a different piece of selection content SC, the control
section 20 of the audio device 1 plays back this piece of selection
content SC. This allows the user to listen to sound of this piece
of selection content SC (described in detail below).
[0081] Accordingly, the control section 20 of the audio device 1
can output sound of the selection content SC in response to the
user's dial operation of the selection dial 11. In this manner, the
control section 20 can provide the user with the sound of the piece
of music content MC when he/she retrieves his/her desired piece of
music content MC.
(4) Play a Different Piece of Music Content
[0082] The following describes how the control section 20 of the
audio device 1 plays back the piece of music content MC when the
piece of selection content SC is switched by the user's dial
operation of the selection dial 11.
[0083] For ease of explanation, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 has recognized all pieces of music content MC in order of
release data: a piece of content A to a piece of content Z in that
order (not shown). At first, the thumbnail image SG of the piece of
content A is selected by the focus frame FC1, and the audio device
1 is playing back sound of the piece of content A.
(4-1) Switching a Piece of Content One Time
[0084] The following describes a case in which the control section
20 of the audio device 1 switches what the focus frame FC1 selects
from the thumbnail image SG of the piece of content A to that of
the piece of content B in accordance with the user's dial operation
of the selection dial 11.
[0085] As shown in FIG. 8A, at time instant t1 when the control
section 20 of the audio device 1 accepts the user's dial operation
of the selection dial 11, the control section 20 scrolls the
thumbnail images SG on the content display section 8 to recognize
the piece of content B, instead of the piece of content A, as a
piece of selection content SC.
[0086] At this time, as shown in FIG. 8B, the control section 20 of
the audio device 1 does not start playing the piece of content B
immediately. The control section 20 keeps playing the piece of
content A during a waiting time tw from time instant t1 (this
reason will be described later).
[0087] At time instant t2 after the waiting time tw has passed
since the time instance t1, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 stops the piece of content A and then starts playing back
the piece of content B.
[0088] In this manner, when the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 accepts the user's dial operation of the selection dial
11, the control section 20 switches the piece of selection content
SC. And then, after the waiting time tw has passed, the control
section 20 starts playing the recently selected (switched) piece of
selection content SC.
(4-2) Sequentially Switching Pieces of Content at Low Speed
[0089] The following describes a case in which the control section
20 of the audio device 1 switches the piece of selection content SC
from one to another at low speed in accordance with the user's slow
dial operation of the selection dial 11: from the piece of content
A to the piece of content B, the piece of content C and the piece
of content D in that order.
[0090] As shown in FIG. 9A corresponding to FIG. 8A, when the
control section 20 of the audio device 1 accepts the user's first
dial operation of the selection dial 11 at time instance t11, the
control section 20 switches the piece of selection content SC from
the piece of content A to the piece of content B.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 9B, at time instance t12 when a waiting
time tw has passed since the time instance t11, the control section
20 of the audio device 1 stops the piece of content A to start
playing the piece of content B.
[0092] When the control section 20 of the audio device 1 accepts
the user's second dial operation of the selection dial 11 at time
instance 13 when a time .DELTA.t1 (which is more than the waiting
time tw) has passed since the time instance t11, the control
section 20 of the audio device 1 switches the piece of selection
content SC from the piece of content B to the piece of content C,
as shown in FIG. 9A.
[0093] At time instance t14 when the waiting time tw has passed
since the time instance t13, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 stops the piece of content B to start playing the piece of
content C (FIG. 9B).
[0094] In a similar way, when the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 accepts the user's third dial operation of the selection
dial 11 at time instance t15 when a time .DELTA.t2 (which is more
than the waiting time tw) has passed since the time instance t13,
the control section 20 of the audio device 1 switches the piece of
selection content SC from the piece of content C to the piece of
content D, as shown in FIG. 9A.
[0095] At time instance t16 when the waiting time tw has passed
since the time instance t15, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 stops the piece of content C to start playing the piece of
content D (FIG. 9B).
[0096] In this manner, when the user slowly operates the selection
dial 11 several times at intervals of time each of which is more
than the waiting time tw, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 sequentially starts playing the pieces of selection
content SC so that they follow the selection of the thumbnail
images SG by the focus frame FC1 (this will be also referred to as
"low speed switch mode").
(4-3) Sequentially Switching Pieces of Content at High Speed
[0097] The following describes a case in which the control section
20 of the audio device 1 switches what the focus frame F1 is
selecting from one thumbnail images SG to another at high speed in
accordance with the user's relatively high-speed dial operation of
the selection dial 11: from the piece of content A to the piece of
content B, the piece of content C and the piece of content D in
that order.
[0098] As shown in FIG. 10A corresponding to FIGS. 8A and 9A, when
the control section 20 of the audio device 1 accepts the user's
first dial operation of the selection dial 11 at time instance t21,
the control section 20 switches the piece of selection content SC
from the piece of content A to the piece of content B.
[0099] Assume that the control section 20 of the audio device 1
accepts the user's second dial operation of the selection dial 11
at time instance t22 when only a time .DELTA.t3 (which is less than
the waiting time tw) has passed since the time instance 21 (FIG.
10A).
[0100] At this time, the control section 20 of the audio device 1
switches the piece of selection content SC from the piece of
content B to the piece of content C. However, because the control
section 20 accepts the second dial operation at time instance t 22
which is before the waiting time tw has passed since the time
instance t21, the control section 20 determines that the user has
no intention to listen to the piece of content B because he/she is
sequentially performing the dial operation.
[0101] If the control section 20 of the audio device 1 starts
playing the piece of content B, it may be played for a very short
period of time less than the waiting time tw. This may sound like
noise to the user. Accordingly, the control section 2 keeps playing
the piece of content A even after the waiting time tw has passed
since the time instance t21 (FIG. 10B).
[0102] The control section 20 of the audio device 1 subsequently
accepts the user's third dial operation of the selection dial 11 at
time instance t23 when only a time .DELTA.t4 (which is less than
the waiting time tw) has passed since the time instance t22 (FIG.
10A).
[0103] At this time, the control section 20 of the audio device 1
switches the piece of selection content SC from the piece of
content C to the piece of content D. However, because the control
section 20 accepts the third dial operation at time instance t 23
which is before the waiting time tw has passed since the time
instance t22, the control section 20 determines that the user is
sequentially performing the dial operation and the piece of content
C should not be played back just for a short period of time.
Accordingly, the control section 20 keeps playing the piece of
content A even after the waiting time tw has passed since the time
instance t22 (FIG. 10B).
[0104] In a case in which the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 does not accept another dial operation during the waiting
time tw from the time instance t23 (FIG. 10A), the control section
20 determines that the user has stopped the dial operation at time
instance t24 when the waiting time tw has passed since the time
instance t23. The control section 20 then starts playing the piece
of content D after stopping the piece of content A (FIG. 10B).
[0105] In this case where the user swiftly operates the selection
dial 11 at short intervals, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 determines that the user has no intention to listen to the
pieces of content B and C, and that he/she wants to skip the pieces
of content B and C to play back the piece of content D.
Accordingly, the control section 20 does not play the pieces of
content B and C, and then plays back the piece of content D after
the piece of content A.
[0106] In this manner, the user swiftly performs the dial operation
of the selection dial 11 several times at intervals of time each of
which is less than the waiting time tw, the control section 20
keeps playing, while the dial operation is being performed, the
same piece of selection content SC selected before the dial
operation began, and, when the dial operation is completed, stops
this piece of selection content SC to play back the finally
selected piece of selection content SC (this mode will be also
referred to as "high speed switch mode").
[0107] By the way, the control section 20 of the audio device 1
waits for the waiting time tw after accepting the user's dial
operation of the selection dial 11. This allows the control section
20 to determine whether the dial operation is relatively low-speed
or high-speed. Based on the result, the control section 20
determines whether to proceed to the high speed switch mode or the
low speed switch mode.
(4-4) Procedure of Selection Content Switch Process
[0108] With reference to FIG. 11, a procedure of selection content
switch process RT1 will be described. The selection content switch
process is executed when the control section 20 of the audio device
1 switches the piece of selection content in response to the user's
dial operation of the selection dial 11.
[0109] Actually, when the audio device 1 is powered on, the control
section 20 starts the procedure of selection content switch process
RT1, and then proceeds to step SP1. At step SP1, the control
section 20 acquires time information from the clock circuit 32. The
control section 20 sets the time information as an initial value of
preceding rotation time to which indicates a time instance just
immediately after the dial operation is performed, and then
proceeds to next step SP2.
[0110] At step SP2, when the user performs the dial operation of
the selection dial 11, the control section 20 receives a rotation
signal SR1 from the input interface 27A of the operation input
section 27, and then proceeds to next step SP3.
[0111] At step SP3, the control section 20 acquires the time
information from the clock circuit 32, and sets the time
information as current time tp. The control section 20 compares the
current time tp with the preceding rotation time ta, and then
proceeds to step SP4.
[0112] At step SP4, the control section 20 checks whether a
difference value of (tp-ta) is greater or equal to the waiting time
tw. The affirmative result at step SP4 means that the user has
performed the dial operation relatively slowly. This means that the
control section 20 should proceed to the low speed switch mode. In
this case, the control section 20 proceeds to next step SP5.
[0113] At step SP5, the control section 20 scrolls the thumbnail
images SG on the display section 8 by one frame in a direction
corresponding to the rotation direction of the selection dial. The
control section 20 then plays back the piece of selection content
in accordance with a procedure of selection content playback
process SRT1 (described below), and proceeds to step SP7.
[0114] The negative result at step SP4 means that the user performs
the dial operation at relatively high speed. This means that the
control section 20 should proceed to the high speed switch mode to
keep playing the currently-played piece of music content SC. In
this case, the control section 20 proceeds to next step SP6.
[0115] At step SP6, in a similar way to that of step SP5, the
control section 20 scrolls the thumbnail images SG on the display
section 8 by one frame in a direction corresponding to the rotation
direction of the selection dial. However, the control section 20
keeps playing the same piece of music content SC, and then proceeds
to nest step SP7.
[0116] At step SP7, the control section 20 updates the preceding
rotation time ta such that the current time tp is set as the
preceding rotation time ta for next dial operation. The control
section 20 subsequently returns to step SP2 to perform the series
of processes.
(5) Playing Time of Piece of Content
(5-1) Basic Principle of Playing Piece of Content
[0117] By the way, in a case in which the piece of selection
content SC is switched to another in response to the user's dial
operation of the selection dial 11, the control section 20 of the
audio device 1 stops playing, when the dial operation is completed,
the previously-selected piece of music content MC and starts
playing the recently-selected piece of selection content SC.
[0118] At this time, the control section 20 of the audio device 1
does not always start from its top part when playing back the
recently-selected piece of selection content SC. The control
section 20 takes over the elapsed time of the previously-selected
piece of selection content SC being played, or a point on a stream
of the previously-selected piece of selection content SC to which
the control section 20 has played (this point will be also referred
to as a "playback point").
[0119] For example, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, at time instance
t10 when the user performs the dial operation slowly, the control
section 20 of the audio device 1 starts playing the piece of
content A from a point where its playback elapsed time is tm10 as
shown in FIG. 9C.
[0120] When the piece of selection content SC is switched, the
control section 20 of the audio device 1 stops the piece of content
A at time instance t12, or at the playback elapsed time tm11 (FIG.
9C), and then starts playing the piece of content B from a point
where the playback elapsed time is tm11 (FIG. 9D).
[0121] In a similar way, when the piece of selection content SC is
switched, the control section 20 of the audio device 1 stops the
piece of content B at time instance t14, or at the playback elapsed
time tm 12 (FIG. 9D), and then starts playing the piece of content
C from a point where the playback elapsed time is tm12 (FIG. 9E).
When the piece of selection content SC is switched, the control
section 20 of the audio device 1 stops the piece of content C at
time instance t16, or at the playback elapsed time tm 13 (FIG. 9E),
and then starts playing the piece of content D from a point where
the playback elapsed time is tm13 (FIG. 9E).
[0122] In this manner, as shown in FIG. 9G, the control section 20
of the audio device 1 sequentially plays the part of piece of
content A which is between the playback elapsed time instances of
t10 and t11, the part of piece of content B which is between the
playback elapsed time instances of t11 and t12, the part of piece
of content C which is between the playback elapsed time instances
of t12 and t13, and the part of piece of content D which is after
the playback elapsed time instance t13. In this way, the control
section 20 takes over the playback elapsed time when switching what
it plays back.
[0123] In a case in which the user performs the dial operation at
relatively high speed as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the control
section 20 of the audio device 1 starts playing the piece of
content A at time instance t20 from a point where the playback
elapsed time is tm20 (FIG. 10C). When the piece of selection
content SC is sequentially switched, the control section 20 stops
the piece of content A at time instance t24 at a point where the
playback elapsed time is tm21 (FIG. 10C), and then starts playing
the piece of content D from a point where the playback elapsed time
is tm21 (FIG. 10D).
[0124] In this manner, even if the user swiftly performs the dial
operation, the control section 20 of the audio device 1, as shown
in FIG. 10E, sequentially plays back the part of piece of content A
which is between the playback elapsed time instances of tm20 and
tm21, and the part of piece of content D which is after the
playback elapsed time tm21. In this way, the control section 20
takes over the playback elapsed time when switching what it plays
back.
[0125] In this manner, each time the piece of selection content SC
is switched, the control section 20 of the audio device 1 starts
playing the piece of selection content SC from various points. This
allows the user to listen to various points of the piece of
selection content SC. This can be fresh and enjoyable, compared to
a device that always plays back the piece of selection content SC
from its top part.
[0126] By the way, when the total playing time Ts of the
recently-selected piece of selection content SC is shorter than the
playback elapsed time tm, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 utilizes the remainder on division of Ts (Total playing
time) by tm (Playback elapsed time) as new playback elapsed time
tm. In this manner, in spite of whether the total playing time Ts
of the piece of selection content SC is long or short, the control
section 20 can play back it from various parts.
[0127] In this manner, when the piece of selection content SC is
switched by the user's dial operation of the selection dial 11, the
control section 20 of the audio device 1 takes over the playback
elapsed time of the previously-selected-and-played piece of music
content MS, and then starts playing back the recently-selected
piece of selection content SC from the same point as that of the
previously-selected piece of selection content SC.
(5-2) Procedure of Content Playback Process
[0128] With reference to FIG. 12, a procedure of selection content
playback process SRT1 will be described. The selection content
playback process is executed when the control section 20 of the
audio device 1 plays back the newly-selected piece of selection
content SC.
[0129] During the procedure of selection content switch process RT1
(FIG. 11), the control section 20 starts the procedure of selection
content playback process SRT1 as subroutine, and then proceeds to
step SP11. At step SP11, the control section 20 memorizes the
playback elapsed time tm of the currently-played piece of selection
content SC (or the previously-selected piece of selection content
SC), and then proceeds to next step SP12.
[0130] At step SP12, the control section 20 compares the total
playing time Ts of the newly-selected piece of selection content SC
with the playback elapsed time tm, and then proceeds to next step
SP13.
[0131] At step SP13, the control section 20 checks whether the
total playing time Ts is longer than the playback elapsed time tm.
The affirmative result at step SP13 means that the
recently-selected piece of selection content SC can be played from
the playback elapsed time tm. In this case, the control section 20
proceeds to next step SP15.
[0132] On the other hand, the negative result at step SP13 means
that the total playback time Ts is shorter than the playback
elapsed time tm. It means that the recently-selected piece of
selection content SC can not be played from the playback elapsed
time tm. In this case, the control section 20 proceeds to next step
SP14.
[0133] At step SP14, the control section 20 sets the reminder on
division of the playback elapsed time tm by the piece of selection
content SC as new playback elapsed time tm, and then proceeds to
next step SP15.
[0134] At step SP15, the control section 20 starts playing the
recently-selected piece of selection content SC form the playback
elapsed time tm, and then proceeds to next step SP16 to end the
procedure of content playback process SRT1. The control section 20
subsequently returns to the procedure of selection content switch
process RT1 (FIG. 11).
(6) Switch the Piece of Content to Be Played
[0135] By the way, when the different thumbnail image SG is
selected by the focus frame FC1 in response to the user's dial
operation of the selection dial 11, as mentioned above, the control
section 20 of the audio device 1 scrolls the thumbnail images SG on
the content display section 8 to the right or left in accordance
with the rotation direction of the selection dial 11.
[0136] For example, when the thumbnail image SGA of the piece of
content A is surrounded by the focus frame FC1 on the content
display section 8 as shown in FIG. 13A (i.e. when the piece of
content A is the piece of selection content SC), the control
section 20 of the audio device 1 accepts the dial operation in
which the user rotated the selection dial 11 at its minimum angular
increment to the right to move the thumbnail images SG by one
frame.
[0137] In this case, as shown in FIGS. 13B to 13D, the control
section 20 of the audio device 1 keeps displaying the focus frame
FC1 at the same position on the content display section 8. And
then, in accordance with the dial operation, the control section 20
gradually scrolls the thumbnail images SG (SGY, SGZ, SGA, SGB and
SGC) to the left to move them by one frame as shown in FIG. 13E.
The control section 20 then stops this movement when the thumbnail
image SGB of the piece of content B is surrounded by the focus
frame FC1.
[0138] At this time, when the piece of selection content SC is
switched in response to the dial operation, the control section 20
of the audio device 1 starts playing back the recently-selected
piece of selection content SC. At this time, the control section 20
gradually turns down the volume of the previously-selected piece of
selection content SC (fade-out), while the control section 20
gradually turns up the volume of the recently-selected piece of
selection content SC (fade-in).
[0139] Actually, the control section 20 of the audio device 1, as
shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, performs fade-out process to gradually
turn down the playback volume level of the piece of content A at
both left and right channels from a usual level to zero. In
addition, the control section 20 performs fade-in process to
gradually turn up the playback volume level of the piece of content
B from zero to a usual level.
[0140] In addition to that, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 controls the volumes of the left and right channels
separately. The control section 20 performs fade-in and fade-out
processes on the left and right channels at different timings. The
playback volume level of the right channel changes earlier than
that of the left channel by is (Timing difference).
[0141] As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, at time instance t31, the
control section 20 of the audio device 1 controls the left and
right channels so that their playback volume levels become almost
the same as for the piece of content A (FIG. 15A). This gives the
user a feeling that the sound image of the piece of content A
exists on almost the center (FIG. 15B).
[0142] At time instance t32, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 much more turns down the playback volume level of the
right channel than that of the left channel (FIG. 16A). This gives
the user a feeling that the sound image of the piece of content A
exists on the left side as shown in FIG. 16B.
[0143] After that, at the time instance t33 or the around, the
control section 20 of the audio device 1 gradually turns down the
playback volume level of the piece of content A on the left channel
from a usual volume level, and also turns down the playback volume
level of the piece of content A on the right channel to zero. In
addition, the control section 20 gradually turns up the playback
volume level of the piece of content B from zero level.
[0144] At time instance t34, as shown in FIG. 17A, the control
section 20 of the audio device 1 outputs the sound of the piece of
content A on the left channel at approximately middle playback
volume level and the sound of the piece of content B on the right
channel at approximately middle playback volume level. This gives
the user a feeling that as shown in FIG. 16B, the sound image of
the piece of content A exists on the left side and the sound image
of the piece of content B exists on the right side.
[0145] At time instance t35, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 turns down the playback volume level of the piece of
content A on the left channel to zero and then gradually increases
the playback volume level of the piece of content B on the left
channel from zero level. In addition, the control section 20
gradually turns up the playback volume level of the piece of
content B on the right channel to a usual volume level.
[0146] At time instance t36, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1, as shown in FIG. 18A, outputs the sound of the piece of
content B on the left channel at approximately middle playback
volume level, and also outputs the sound of the piece of content B
on the right channel at the usual volume level. That gives the user
a feeling that the sound image of the piece of content B exists on
the right side as shown in FIG. 18B.
[0147] At time instance t37, as shown in FIG. 19A, to make the
volumes of the piece of content B on the left and right channels
almost the same, the control section 20 of the audio device 1 gives
the user a feeling that the sound image of the piece of content B
exists on almost the center as shown in FIG. 19B.
[0148] In this manner, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the control
section 20 of the audio device 1 separately controls the volume
levels of the left and right channels such that the volume level
associated with the upstream-side (or right-side) thumbnail images
SG being scrolled changes ts (ts: Timing difference) earlier than
the other. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 15B to 19B, that gives
the user the following feeling: the sound of the piece of content A
is faded out and its sound image gradually moves from the center
from the left, while the sound of the piece of content B is faded
in and its sound image gradually moves to the center from the
right.
[0149] Accordingly, when what the focus frame FC1 selects is
switched from one thumbnail image SG to another in accordance with
the user's dial operation of the selection dial 11 to the right,
the control section 20 of the audio device 1 can give the user the
following feeling: the sound images of the previously-selected and
recently-selected pieces of selection content SC flow from the
right to left in association with the movement of the thumbnail
image SG (the thumbnail image SGA which is associated with the
previously-selected piece of selection content SC, in this case)
going out of the focus frame FC1 to the left and another thumbnail
image SG (the thumbnail image SGB which is associated with the
recently-selected piece of selection content SC, in this case)
going into the focus frame FC1 from the right.
[0150] By the way, when the control section 20 of the audio device
1 accepts the user's dial operation of the selection dial 11 which
is rotated to the left, the control section 20 scrolls the
thumbnail images SG from the left to the right. In addition, the
control section 20 controls the left- and right-sides volume levels
in left-right reverse manner from the above method illustrated by
FIGS. 14 to 19. This gives the user a feeling that the sound images
of the previously- and recently-selected pieces of selection
content SC flow from the left to the right.
[0151] In this manner, the control section 20 of the audio device 1
scrolls, in accordance with the user's dial operation of the
selection dial 11, the thumbnail images SG on the content display
section 8 to the right or the left, and controls the left- and
right-sides volume levels such that the one is faded in or out ts
(ts: Timing difference) earlier than the other. That gives the user
a feeling that the sound images of the previously- and
recently-selected pieces of selection content SC flow to the left
or the right in accordance with the movement of the thumbnail
images SG.
(7) Operation and Effect
[0152] With the audio device 1 with the above configuration, when
the user performs the dial operation of the selection dial 11, the
control section 20 of the audio device 1 switches what the focus
frame FC1 selects from one thumbnail image SG to another, and then
plays back the newly-selected piece of selection content SC.
[0153] In a case in which the dial operation is performed several
times and the intervals of the operation are greater or equal to
the waiting time tw, the control section 20 of the audio device 1
sequentially plays back the recently-selected pieces of selection
content SC.
[0154] Accordingly, if the intervals of the dial operation are
greater or equal to the waiting time tw, the control section 20 of
the audio device 1 proceeds to the low speed switch mode to let the
user listen to the pieces of selection content SC one after
another.
[0155] In this case, the user slowly performs the dial operation
because he/she may want to listen to each piece of selection
content SC selected. In line with his/her intention, the control
section 20 of the audio device 1 allows the user to listen to those
pieces of selection content SC one after another while he/she
performs the dial operation.
[0156] On the other hand, in a case in which the dial operation is
performed several times and the intervals of the operation is less
than the waiting time tw, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 proceeds to the high speed switch mode where the control
section 20 keeps playing the same previously-selected piece of
selection content SC. After the dial operation is completed, the
control section 20 starts playing the finally-selected piece of
selection content SC.
[0157] In this case, when the intervals of the dial operation are
less than the waiting time tw, the control section 20 of the audio
device 1 skips some pieces of selection content SC selected by the
user, and let the user listen to only the finally-selected piece of
selection content SC.
[0158] In this manner, the control section 20 of the audio device 1
keeps playing back the originally-selected piece of selection
content MC until the dial operation is completed without playing
back any pieces of selection content SC selected halfway. This
prevents the user from feeling discomfort, such as noise caused by
the pieces of selection content SC switched at short intervals.
[0159] Moreover, in this case, the user swiftly performs the dial
operation because he/she wants to listen to only the
finally-selected piece of music content MC. In line with that, the
control section 20 of the audio device 1 skips the pieces of
selection content SC selected halfway during he/she performs the
dial operation, and lets the user listen to the finally-selected
piece of selection content SC.
[0160] Furthermore, although the control section 20 of the audio
device in the high speed switch mode does not change what it plays
back until the dial operation is completed, the control section 20
switches what the focus frame FC is selecting from one thumbnail
image SG to another on the content display section 8 in accordance
with the dial operation in real time. This allows the user to
recognize which piece of content (selection content SC) is selected
in real time.
[0161] In this manner, the control section 20 of the audio device 1
proceeds, in accordance with the speed of the user's dial operation
of the selection dial 11, to the low or high speed switch mode.
Accordingly, this prevents the user from feeling discomfort while
listening to the pieces of music content MC even if he/she wants to
listen to each piece of music content MC to check them or he/she
wants to listen to only his/her desired piece of music content MC
without listening to others.
[0162] The control section 20 of the audio device 1 controls, when
the piece of music content MC to be played is switched, the
playback volume level to perform fade-out and fade-in. This
prevents radical changes in volume, and prevents the user from
feeling discomfort.
[0163] In addition, the control section 20 of the audio device 1
performs fade-in and fade-out on the left and right channels such
that the one is ts (ts: Timing difference) earlier than the other.
This gives the user a feeling that the sound images change
according to the thumbnail images SG scrolled. This entertains the
user.
[0164] The above configuration makes this possible: the control
section 20 of the audio device 1 sequentially switches the piece of
selection content SC in response to the user's dial operation of
the selection dial 11; if the intervals of the dial operation is
less than the waiting time tw, the control section 20 keeps playing
back the originally-selected piece of selection content SC while
he/she performs the dial operation: the control section 20 then,
when the dial operation is completed, stops the originally-selected
one and plays back the finally-selected piece of selection content
SC. This prevents him/her from feeling discomfort to listen to
his/her desired piece of music content MC.
(8) Other Embodiment
[0165] In the above-noted embodiments, the audio device 1 keeps
playing the originally-selected piece of selection content SC when
the user swiftly performs the dial operation. However the present
invention is not limited to this. For example, the audio device 1
may turn down the playback volume level of the pieces of selection
content SC while the user performs the dial operation, and put a
confirmation sound, which indicates that the dial operation has
been accepted, on the sound of the pieces of selection content
SC.
[0166] In addition, in the above-noted embodiments, when the piece
of music content MC to be played is switched to another, the audio
device 1 gets the previously-selected piece of music content MC
faded out, and gets the recently-selected piece of music content MC
faded in. However the present invention is not limited to this. The
audio device 1 may perform cross-fade, or put the part of the
previously-selected piece of music content MC to be faded out on
the part of the recently-selected piece of music content MC to be
faded in. Alternatively, the audio device 1 may perform either
fade-out or fade-in.
[0167] Moreover, in the above-noted embodiment, the audio device 1
controls the playback volume levels of the pieces of music content
MC on both the left and right channels to give the user a feeling
that the sound images of the pieces of music content MC changes
according to the thumbnail images SG scrolled. However the present
invention is not limited to this. For example, the audio device 1
may control the playback volume levels of the pieces of music
content MC on both the left and right channels to give the user a
feeling that the sound images of the pieces of music content MC
changes separately from the thumbnail images SG scrolled.
Alternatively, the audio device 1 may make the playback volume
levels of the pieces of music content MC on both the left and right
channels almost the same so that the sound images exist on almost
the center. Alternatively, the audio device 1 may control the phase
of the pieces of music content MC on both the left and right
channels to change the sound images.
[0168] Furthermore, in the above-noted embodiments, rotating the
selection dial 11 switches the piece of selection content SC.
However the present invention is not limited to this. For example,
pushing selection buttons, such as the operation buttons 9, may
switch the piece of selection content SC. Alternatively, putting
and moving a finger on a touch panel on the audio device 1 may
switch the piece of selection content SC.
[0169] In this case, the number of times of pushing the selection
buttons during a predetermined period may determine whether the
audio device 1 proceed to the low or high speed switch mode. For
example, the audio device 1 may proceed to the high speed switch
mode when the operation button is pushed more than the
predetermined period of time. Alternatively, the speed of the
finger on the touch panel may determine whether to proceed to the
low or high speed switch mode.
[0170] Furthermore, in the above-noted embodiments, the pieces of
music content MC are arranged in order of release date (year, month
and day). However the present invention is not limited to this. The
pieces of music content MC may be arranged in various ways, such as
in alphabetical order, in order of total playing time, or in order
of storage. Alternatively, the pieces of music content MC may be
arranged randomly.
[0171] In addition, the pieces of music content MC may be placed
side by side not only in a row, but also in a lattice or random
pattern. In this case, their thumbnail images SG may be selected by
operation instruction means such as a mouse.
[0172] Furthermore, in the above-noted embodiments, the audio
device 1, where the piece of music content MC to be played is
switched in accordance with the user's operation instruction, is
applied. However the present invention is not limited to this. For
example, a video recorder, where the pieces of video content are
stored in a Hard Disk Drive and the piece of video content to be
played is switched in accordance with the user's operation
instructions, may be applied.
[0173] Furthermore, in the above-noted embodiments, the audio
device 1 with hardware components is applied. However the present
invention is not limited to this. Electronic devices, such as
personal computers and mobile phones capable of playing back music
and displaying information, may perform a content playback program
and other programs to switch what it plays back from one piece of
music content MC to another in accordance with the user's operation
instructions. In this case, the user may operate keys or a mouse to
switch the piece of music content MC to be played.
[0174] In addition, as a storage medium for storing the content
playback program and other programs, the following media may be
applied to: the ROM 20B of the control section 20, the Hard Disk
Drive 22, an external storage media such as the optical disc 4 and
the small memory card 6. The programs in the external storage media
may be installed on the Hard Disk Drive 22. The audio device 1 may
acquire the content playback program and other programs from
outside through a communication cable (such as Universal Serial Bus
(USB) cable and "Ethernet (Registered Trademark)"), or a wireless
Local Area Network (LAN) (such as IEEE 802.11a/b/g (IEEE: Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)).
[0175] Furthermore, in the above-noted embodiments, the audio
device 1, which is equivalent to the content playback apparatus,
includes: the image display section 26, which is equivalent to
display means; the audio reproduction section 28, which is
equivalent to playback means; the operation input section 27 and
the reproduction control section 20D, which are equivalent to
switch means; and the reproduction control section 20D, which is
equivalent to playback control means. However the present invention
is not limited to this. The content playback apparatus may include
other circuit components which are equivalent to the display means,
the playback means, the switch means and the playback control
means.
[0176] The content playback apparatus, content playback method and
storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention
may be also applied to various content playback devices capable of
selecting and playing a desired piece of content out of a plurality
of pieces of content.
[0177] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that
various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and
alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other
factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims
or the equivalents thereof.
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